Al-Qaeda has significantly benefited from Gaddafi-era weapons stockpiles Tripoli – Moftah Mesbahi Al-Qaeda militants are gaining a foothold in sensitive positions of government in Libya, according to reports.A report, published on Friday,named 14 known al-Qaeda leaders currently in administrative roles in charge of airports and other high-ranking posts in important institutions.Among those named are Muftah al-Daoudi, Salah al-Braki, Ismail al-Salabi, Nasser Taillenon, Hassan al-Hamar, Abdul Wahab al-Fandi, Sofein bin Qoumo, Salem al-Barrani, Mohammed al-Drabouqi, Abdul al-Baset Azzouz, Abdul Hakim Balhaj, Abdul Hakim al-Hasaadi, Sami Mustapha and Khalifa al-Saadi.
Some are former detainees of Libya’s infamous Abu Selim prison.
Muftah al-Daoudi is currently under investigation at Libya’s Ministry of Martyrs, Wounded and Missing Persons and heads the Sabrafa military council.
The al-Qaeda official was once prisoner at Abu Selim, accused of establishing the al-Ansar militant camp in Afghanistan.
Al-Daoudi is allegedly well-known amongst extremist circles inside Afghanistan, where he was nicknamed “Abu Abed al-Ghaffer.”
Fellow militant al-Braki is also military chief council in Abu Selim in Tripoli.
He is the undisputed leader of all militia forces in the capital.
Al-Braki’s brother was killed in Abu Selim prison in 1996.
Other reports have suggested a connection between the death of al-Qaeda leader Abu Yehya and the September 11 consulate attack in Benghazi, which left US ambassador Chris Stevens and other staff dead in 2011.
Sources claim US authorities killed Abu Yehya in response to the deadly operation, which commemorated 10 years since the 9/11 suicide attacks in New York City in 2001.
Al-Qaeda has enjoyed a considerable increase in military strength since the fall of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, as arms smuggling and lawlessness continues to hamper Western and US interests in the region.